Speech corrective device



Oct. 26, 1954 Filed May 2, 19.52

F. J. LINDSLEY vSPEECH CORRECTIVE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l #ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1954 F. J. LINDSLEY 2,692,444

SPEECH CORRECTIVE DEVICE Filed May 2, 1952 2 Sheets-shew*l 2 FIGA. 5

INVENTOR.

FRANK J. LINDSLEY A ATTORNEY 2g Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPEECH CCR-RECTIVE DEVICE Fra-nk J. Lindsley, Marshall, Mich.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,668

4 Claims.

This invention relates to speech corrective devices and particularly visual aids to speech corrective instruction.

An object of the invention is to provide an instruction sheet imprinted with a row or other series of letters, pictures, or other indicia of speech sounds, and to so movably mount such sheet on a suitable plate that the described indicia may be successively exposed through an opening in the mounting plate, thus visually instructing a pupil as to required sounds.

Another object is to so install a mirror on the mounting plate that a pupil may observe his lip, tongue and teeth movements in forming instructed sounds.

Another object is to imprint the described indicia upon an elongated strip of material and to install such strip on the mounting plate to slide across said opening of the plate and thus successively expose indicia carried by the strip.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive type of composite mounting plate, lending itself to the desired installation of the described instruction sheet.

These and various other objects are attained by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as equipped with a sliding strip to carry indicia.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the indicia strip as removed from the mounting plate.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View of the device, as equipped with a rotary disk receiving the indicia.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of the modified device, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the rotary disk disassembled from the device.

Referring first to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the reference character I designates a mounting plate, preferably rectangular, and interiorly formed with a horizontal slideway 2 which opens at 3 in the vertical edges of said plate. Substantially mid- Way between said edges, 'the plate is formed with a rectangular opening 4, exposing the slideway forwardly of the plate. An elongated strip 5 of heavy paper or the like is fitted freely in the slideway, projecting beyond one or both vertical edges of the plate. The front face of said strip is divided into a row of rectangular panels proportioned for individual display through the opening 4. Such panels contain indicia, varying more or less in the different panels, but all preferably relating to a certain sound effect. Thus the illustrated set of panels all relate to the letter l? used as the initial letter of a word, such set comprising several repetitions of the letter P' and several illustrated words exemplifying initial use of such letter, each illustration being preferably repeated in several panels. It will be appreciatedl that for complete training as to letter sounds, a considerable number of differently illustrated strips must be employed, the plate I being suited to selectively mount any such strip. For instruction in use of the letter P as medially used in words, a different strip having suitable illustrations as Apple or Ape will be employed, and a third strip will exemplify terminal use of the letter. Use of other letters will similarly be illustrated by a suitable number of strips.

Utility of the device is greatly enhanced by employment of a mirror 'I fixed on the plate I in such proximity to the opening I that a pupil may observe his lip, tongue and teeth movements in producing the sound required by an exposed panel 6. Such mirror is disposed preferably adjacent to and centrally above the opening II.

The plate I preferably comprises a rear member 8, upper and lower spacer members 9 and 9a, and a front member Ill. The rear member is relatively thick and hence quite sti, and the front member is relatively thin. The spacer members are slightly thicker than the strip 5 which slides between such members. The mirror is preferably rigidly cemented to the rear member 8, projecting freely into an opening II of the upper spacer member. An opening I2 in the front member of the plate exposes almost the entire mirror, leaving its edges covered. By thus avoiding access to the mirror edges, any detachment of the mirror from the member 3 is rendered more difficult. The members 8, 9, 9a and I0 are adhesively held in proper assembly, as by applying adhesive tape I3 to all four edges of the plate I, such tape being wide enough to slightly lap the front and rear faces of the plate.

In its modified form (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), the invention comprises a rectangular mounting plate I4 similar to that already described, and similarly mounting a mirror I5. Centrally below such mirror, a disk I6 rotatively occupies a substantially circular recess I'I of the plate I4, such disk having an actuating portion projecting below the plate. The disk is centrally and detachably journaled on the plate, as by a center pin I8. The front face of the disk is divided by diametrical lines I9 into a desired number of sector-shaped f panels 2l), and these contain varying indicia pertaining to some certain letter and its sound variations. By rotation of the disk I6, these panels may be successively registered with an opening 2| extending to the recess I1 through the front face of the mounting plate.

The described device is particularly adapted to use in the speech education of young children and is especially useful in overcoming speech impediments. It has, moreover, been found frequently Luseful in assisting older children and has in Vmany cases aided adults. The device assists greatly in holding the interest of young children and in making clear the desired pronunciation, whether or not a child is able to spell the words to be pronounced. Young children enjoy manipulating the device, and enhance their effort to correctly sound an exposed letter or word, so that they may again manipulate the slide or disk. The device may serve to increase a childs vocabulary, while he is learning accurate pronunciation and clear enuciation.

What I claim is:

1. A visual aid to speech instruction comprising a mounting plate having a front and a rear face and a display opening interrupting and rearwardly extending from said front face, an instruction sheet imprinted with a series of panels containing indicia of various speech sounds, and means for movably mounting the instruction sheet on the mounting plate to travel across said opening and thus effect successive display of the panels through said opening, and a mirror carried by the mounting plate in proximity to said opening and positioned to eiect a reflection forwardly from the plate of the lip movement entailed by a speech sound indicated by indicia exposed through said opening.

2. A visual aid to speech instruction, comprising a mounting plate formed by a rear member, a front member, and an upper and a lower spacer member disposed between the front and rear members, said spacer members dening the upper and lower edges of a slideway formed between the front and rear members, and the front member having an opening into such slidewa-y, an elongated instruction slip slidable in the slideway and formed with a row of panels, successively registrable with said opening by sliding of said strip, such panels containing indicia of various speech sounds, a mirror adjacent to said opening and secured to said rear member and having its reiiecting face exposed through openings in the front member and in one of said spacer members.

3. A visual aid to speech instruction, comprising a mounting plate including a rear member, a front member, and a spacer member disposed between the front and rear members, an instruction sheet disposed between said front and rear members and imprinted on its front face with a series of panels containing indicia of various speech sounds, said front member having an opening suited to individually display said panels, means for guiding the instruction sheet in a travel such as to successively register said panels with said opening, a mirror adjacent to said opening and secured to said rear member and having its reecting face exposed through openings in the frontmember and said spacer member.

4. A visual aid to speech instruction as set forth in claim 3, said instruction sheet having an actuating portion projecting beyond a margin of the mounting plate. y

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 598,509 Hall Feb. 8, 1898 1,177,652 Robertson Apr. 4, 1916 1,285,038 Chance Nov. '19, 1918 2,472,114 Marder June 7, 1949 2,628,442 Blewett Feb. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 249,888 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1948 309,561 Italy July 12, 1933 977,901 France Nov.`15, 1950 

